It is the trip for rest days, or for days when Fitz Roy is hidden on the town side. It is not part of the National Park: the lake is in a provincial reserve and the glacier trail crosses private land. You go on route 41, gravel, about an hour by car.
Route 41, kilometre by kilometre
- 0
El Chaltén
Leave from the north end of town and the road soon turns to gravel. It follows the Río de las Vueltas valley up to the lake.
- 4.1
Chorrillo del Salto
The waterfall in the forest, a few minutes from the car park. A good first stop. Access is booked and paid online.
- 14.5
El Pilar
The inn and the start of the trail up the Río Blanco to Laguna de los Tres. It is where we begin that hike.
- 35.9
Punta Sur
End of the road, on the south shore of the lake. There is an inn with a restaurant, the boat pier and the start of the Huemul Glacier trail.
- on foot
Huemul Glacier
About 2 km uphill through the forest from Punta Sur, to the lagoon below the glacier. Separate fee, on private land.
- boat
Punta Norte
The far end of the lake, about 11 km away. You get there by boat or on a long shoreline trail. The border crossing to Chile is there.
The Huemul Glacier trail
It leaves from Punta Sur and climbs through the forest for about 2 km, with about 250 m of ascent: roughly an hour and a half. At the top the lagoon appears, milky green, with the glacier pouring into it. It is private land: you pay a fee at the hut at the start of the trail, separate from the National Park fee.
Not to be confused: the Huemul Glacier at Lago del Desierto has nothing to do with the Huemul Circuit, the four-day trek around Cerro Huemul, to the south, beside the Viedma Glacier.
The lake
The lake is about 11 km long, south to north, boxed in by mountains with forest down to the water. Boats leave Punta Sur for Punta Norte and back: times and operators change every season, so book in town. There is also a long trail along the shore to Punta Norte, a full day.
Punta Norte is the border crossing to Chile. People walking to or from Villa O’Higgins cross there: it is a seasonal crossing, with Argentina’s Gendarmería on one side and Chile’s Carabineros on the other. Read more →
Until 1994 this lake was disputed ground between Argentina and Chile. An international arbitration tribunal settled it, in Argentina’s favour.
How to go
- On a tour
- Agencies in town sell the full day: transfer, time for the glacier and, if you like, the boat.
- On a regular transfer
- Minibuses run up and down route 41 in season. They drop you at Punta Sur and pick you up at an agreed time.
- By car
- About an hour of gravel. Go slowly: tight bends, narrow bridges and dust in summer.
If what you want is to hike
Lago del Desierto makes a great rest day. For the big hikes, Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre are walked from town. And if you are after a multi-day trek by the ice, that is the other one: the Huemul Circuit.
Questions
How far is Lago del Desierto from El Chaltén?
36 km on route 41, gravel: about an hour by car.
How long is the Huemul Glacier trail?
About an hour and a half up, roughly 2 km with 250 m of climbing, from Punta Sur.
Do you pay to see the Huemul Glacier?
Yes. The trail crosses private land and you pay at the hut at the start. It is separate from the National Park fee.
Is Lago del Desierto in Los Glaciares National Park?
No. It is in a provincial reserve, outside the Park.
Can you cross into Chile from Lago del Desierto?
Yes, on foot, in season: from Punta Norte to Candelario Mancilla and Villa O’Higgins, with border controls on both sides.